52 pages • 1 hour read
The Widows of Malabar Hill
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Widows of Malabar Hill is a 2018 historical mystery novel by Sujata Massey. The novel is the first in Massey’s Perveen Mistry series and won several awards, including the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Set in 1920s Bombay (present-day Mumbai), the novel follows Perveen Mistry, a young woman who joined her father’s law firm and became one of the first female lawyers in India. Despite her family’s support, she must struggle against prejudice and her tragic past to make her way in the world. When one of the firm’s clients dies, Perveen notices some irregularities in his estate planning and worries that his three widows will be left penniless. Since the women live in strict purdah (a religious and social practice of gender partition) and do not speak to men, it is up to her to explain their legal rights and help them navigate the intricacies of inheritance law. As she gets to know the widows, she quickly realizes that the case is more complicated and dangerous than she had guessed.
This study guide refers to the eBook version of the Soho Press edition.
Content Warning: The source text includes discussions of racism, addiction, abuse, and violence.
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